Compare towns
Sutton vs Wardsboro vs Ripton vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barton has the most renters (26.1% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sutton | Wardsboro | Ripton | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
820 |
508Lowest |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.